Dillon JC Auxiliary honors Cottom, Eudaily

Nominees for the Dillon Jaycees’ Outstanding Woman of the Year awards (l to r) Jean Bergeson, Robin Ellis, Ashly Cottom, Janey Eudaily and Dorothy DeHart line up at the award ceremony last week at the Beaverhead Golf Course clubhouse. Cottom won Outstanding Young Woman of the Year while Eudaily picked up Outstanding Woman of the Year honors. M.P. Regan photo

Local wonder women Janey Eudaily and Ashly Cottom were honored by the Dillon Jaycee Auxiliary at a ceremony last Tuesday in the Beaverhead Golf Course clubhouse.

Eudaily gained the 2013 Outstanding Woman of the Year award, while Cottom earned the nod for the 2013 Outstanding Young Woman of the Year.

Eight people contributed to Eudaily’s nomination form, which highlighted her volunteer contributions to numerous local organizations, including the Food Pantry, the Beaverhead County Museum, the Philanthropic Educational Organization, the Shakespeare Book Club, and the Grace United Methodist Church — as well as to anyone she comes in contact with in life.

“Janey is a bright shining light in the lives of her family, her friends and her community,” wrote Kerstin Lorenzen on Eudaily’s nomination.

“When I first came to Dillon, I did not know anyone and I did not have a sense of what the community had to offer and how to find my place among all the people here. Janey was instrumental in helping me feel welcome, by inviting me to several of the organizations she was part of.”

Cottom was hailed for her wise and compassionate business leadership in her role as branch manager of the local Wells Fargo Bank, as well as her volunteer efforts for the Dillon Jaycee Auxiliary, Women’s Resource Center, and as a young mother.

“Many people know Ashly as a successful business woman, a woman dedicated to serving others, and a woman who holds friendship loyally close to her heart,” wrote Ashly’s mother-in-law Cathy Cottom in a nomination letter.

“But beyond this, she is known as a woman with passionate devotion as a loving wife, a doting mother, an affectionate family member, and a faithful Christian. I am privileged to know Ashly as my Daughter-in-Love.”

Robin Ellis was also nominated for Outstanding Young Woman of the Year, while Jean Bergeson and Dorothy DeHart also received nominations for Outstanding Woman of the Year.

Nominated by her husband, Tye, Robin Ellis was cited for her service to the Dillon Elementary Parent Council, the Beaverhead 4-H Concessions Board and the Dillon Jaycees, and for her full-time employment at High Peaks Federal Credit Union.

“Most importantly, she is a wonderful mother to her three boys and a devoted wife,” wrote her husband.

Dorothy DeHart gained an Outstanding Woman of the Year nomination for her work with the Southwest Montana Arts Council, which for her nomination form wrote: “Dorothy is an outstanding Dillon citizen. Dorothy is kind, patient, innovative and extremely fun, even when faced with the challenge of working with some very high-needs young people in her job as an occupational therapist. Every child she works with at the school benefits from her gracious attitude and patience.”

The final Outstanding Woman of the Year candidate, Jean Bergeson, was nominated by her son, Jack Bergeson.

“Jean exemplifies the meaning of the word outstanding, and her commitment to her family, her friends and her community is unparalleled,” said Jack, who went on to cite Jean’s work in the legal field as a lawyer and as a Dillon City Councilperson while raising Jack and his older sister, Kelly, who suffers from spina bifida. Her son also hailed Bergeson’s volunteer efforts for March of Dimes, Beaverhead Ski Patrol, Beaverhead County Ambulance Service, as well for being a loving wife and grandmother.

First given in 1973 by the Dillon Soroptomist Organization, the Outstanding Woman of the Year awards honor area women who have contributed mightily to the betterment of their community.